Kitz Metal Works to Install 4th Continuous Casting Line for Brass Billet

Kitz group’s brass bar maker, KITZ Metal Works will add a continuous casting line at its plant in Chino City, Nagano of Japan. Kitz Metal Works will construct a new building inside Chino plant and transfer a horizontal continuous casting line from the closed subsidiary, Kyoto Brass in Kyoto. Kitz Metal Works’ billet output capacity will increase by 1,500-1,600 tonnes per month.

The new building will be constructed on the site of approximately 1,000 square meters, next to Chino plant’s existent casting factory building. The construction will start within August. Kitz Metal Works plans to start the commercial operation within this year. The investment totals approximately 200 million yen. Chino plant currently has one horizontal continuous casting line and two vertical continuous casting lines. The new line will be transferred from Kyoto Brass’ closed plant.

Kyoto Brass was Kitz Group’s another brass bar maker. Kitz Metal Works integrated Kyoto Brass’ operation into Chino plant in autumn of 2009 when market demand plunged after Lehman Shock.

The demand has rebounded. Japanese brass bar production was around 17,000 tonnes per month since April, the volume as high as pre-Lehman Shock level. Kitz Metal Works has kept full capacity production at around 3,500 tonnes per month for finished products since autumn of 2009. However, the lead time still takes relatively long for some items.

Chino plant will also be able to improve productivity and reduce production cost. The firm estimates the investment cost can be recovered in five years as a result of cost cut.